Romanian Fairy Tales: The Magic Brocade
A Widow and Her Children
Once upon a time, long ago in China, there lived an old widow with her three children: Fan, Yi, and Mei. The widow wove brocades that were known for their beauty. With patterns of flowers, birds, and animals, her brocades were the most beautiful, and by selling them, she supported her three children.
— I'm done for today. I'm going to do the shopping.
A Magic Painting
She was wandering through the market when she saw a painting that caught her eye. A painting of a white house, surrounded by green fields and a full garden. Birds flew overhead, and a river flowed past the house.
— How beautiful this painting is! I think I'll buy it.
She bought the painting and hurried home.
— Fan, Yi, Mei! Come see what I've bought!
— Oh! I hope you bought honey cakes, Mother!
They came and saw the magnificent painting.
— Wow, how beautiful it is! — Isn't it? I wish I could live in this magnificent place! Ha! — Ha ha ha! What grand dreams! — Mother, did you get those sticky cakes or not? — Ah! Here they are!
Mei's Idea
— Mother, why don't you weave that painting into a brocade? That way, we'll feel like we already live there!
The widow loved the idea that sweet Mei had given her. So, from that day on, the widow sat at her loom and began to work.
The Brothers' Greed
After a month, Fan began to complain.
— Mother, we're tired of chopping wood to earn money! — Indeed, Mother, can you stop working on the brocade? Do you have much left to do?
Mei, who was sitting with her mother, looked at them annoyed.
— It's alright, Mother, I'll take care of everything.
So she went into the forest alone to chop wood and take care of the whole family. She even wove some brocades herself and sold them at the market.
— Ah! How good it would be if I could weave as well as Mother! Then I would earn much more!
The widow burned pine branches so she could work at night. The smoke made her eyes water, and she often pricked her fingers. But she continued to work.
The Brocade Comes to Life
A year passed, then another. She had woven the most beautiful blue and magnificent sky, and the flowers were incredibly red. At the end of the third year, the brocade was almost finished.
— Mmm... I'm almost done. Just one more little stitch.
Just then, Mei opened the door and entered the room.
— Oh, is it almost done? It's finished! Look how beautiful it is, my dear! — It's incredibly beautiful, Mother!
Fan and Yi rushed in to see what the two were so happy about.
— Wow! It really is wonderful, Mother! It will bring us enough money to live for a few months! — Mmm! Months of sticky cakes! — Oh! Don't think about those silly things anymore! — Ha ha ha! I won't sell this! This wonderful brocade is just for us!
The Wind Steals the Brocade
As she spoke, a strong wind swept into the house, snatched the brocade, and carried it far away. Mei and her mother ran after it, but the wind carried it very far, over the mountains to the east. The widow went and begged her sons to find her brocade.
— Please, I beg you, my dear sons, bring it back to me, or I will die!
The two looked at her and realized she was heartbroken. So they decided that the eldest, Fan, would go and bring back the brocade.
Fan's Journey
He set off and, after a month, reached a mountain where, next to a small house, an old woman sat with a stone horse.
— Where are you going? — To the east.
He told her about his mother's brocade and then stopped, for the old woman's eye color had changed. She was looking into the distance.
— The brocade was taken to the Sun Mountain. The fairies are copying it. Only my horse can take you there, but you will have to wash it. Only then will it come to life and take you to the Sun Mountain. — It's a lot of work, but I'll do it. — You must pass through the Mountain of Flame, without complaining about the heat, or you will burn. Then, the Frozen Sea follows. You must not shiver, or you will drown. — That's too much work for a miserable brocade.
The woman looked closely at him and gave him a small bag of gold coins.
— Then, take this gold and forget about the journey. — Agreed.
He happily took the bag and turned towards home. On the way, he began to think about what life he would lead if he didn't share the wealth. So he went to the city alone. At home, the widow waited sadly.
Yi's Journey
— He hasn't returned! Yi, Yi, will you bring me the brocade, please? — Nooo...
The widow began to cry sadly, so Yi went to look for the brocade. When he reached the mountain pass, he also met the old woman, who told him about the Mountain of Flame and the Frozen Sea. And, like his brother, he took the gold and went to the city alone.
Mei's Journey
After another month passed and nothing was heard about the brocade, Mei left to look for it. She also reached the old woman, who told her the story.
She immediately set about cleaning the stone horse, and soon it looked wonderful. As she admired it, the horse stamped its hooves and came to life.
— Now get up. You have a long way to go.
And in a few moments, the girl galloped quickly towards the east. When they reached the Mountain of Flame, fire surrounded Mei, but she passed through the dizzying heat without shedding a single tear. Then, when she reached the sea, icy waves crashed against the shore, but Mei and her horse continued on without trembling at all.
On the distant shore, she saw a golden palace at the top of the Sun Mountain. She entered and inside found many fairies making copies of her mother's brocade.
— Excuse me, I've come to take back my mother's brocade. Will you give it to me? — Oh, no, you can't! But tonight we will finish, and then you can take your mother's brocade with you.
The fairies offered her a delicious meal and a comfortable bed. Towards morning, one of the fairies looked at her own brocade. It was nowhere near as beautiful as the widow's. She decided she couldn't give up the brocade, so she wove an image of herself into the widow's brocade.
In the morning, Mei woke up and saw the brocade in front of her, and the fairies had disappeared. She took it and left, passing again through the Frozen Sea and the Fiery Mountain, until she reached the old woman.
— Come here, my beauty. You must rest well after this difficult journey.
She sprinkled some magic dust on the horse, which turned back into stone. Mei thanked the old woman and went home.
A New Life
When she saw Mei with the brocade, the widow rose from her bed, recovering immediately. Together they carried the brocade outside, into the sunlight, and when they unfurled it, a beautiful fragrance arose, and the brocade grew until it covered the entire land. The silk threads shimmered, and the painting came to life. Wonderful birds began to fly everywhere, and animals grazed on the fresh green grass. On top of the hill appeared a large white house. Everything was exactly as in the brocade, except that by the river there was a beautiful girl. This was the fairy who had woven herself into the brocade.
— Hello! I am from the Sun Palace. Your brocade is very beautiful, but no matter how hard we tried, we couldn't copy it. — Then you can stay here with me to learn. That's the least I can do to reward you for the magic with which you have blessed us.
Thus, the three remained together. The fairy used her powers and told the widow how her sons had abandoned her out of greed.
— Ah! It doesn't matter. I only need my Mei.
The widow invited her neighbors to enjoy the bounty of her fields. Mei and the fairy became friends, and everyone lived happily.
Forgiveness and Love
One day, two beggars passed by. Mei went to ask if they needed help, but when she recognized them, she was shocked.
— What? Fan, Yi? How dare you return after abandoning us?
The two brothers gave in and began to beg her. They promised to do anything to be forgiven by their mother.
— Wait, Mei! Let them do what they want. You two, if you are truly sorry, go and work in the garden. — But, Mother! — Mei, they are your brothers. If they are truly sorry, they deserve forgiveness.
So Fan and Yi worked hard to show their mother how ashamed they were, and in the end, she welcomed them. Once again, it was a happy family.
Let us never forget the love and care others show us. Let us not give them up for greed. We must understand the effort put in and give back all the love we receive.
